Story highlights

Tiger Woods says there hasn't been time for a clear-the-air talk with Sergio Garcia

Garcia said he'd apologize face-to-face for 'fried chicken' comment he made about Woods

The pair were pictured shaking hands on Monday but haven't met again

Garcia reveals he left a note for Woods in his locker at Merion

Despite their public handshake on Monday it appears there is still some way to go before Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia bury the hatchet.

A long-running spat between the two golfers resurfaced after they shared a contentious round together at The Players' Championship in May.

After several verbal volleys in either direction, Garcia's joke that he would invite Woods round for "fried chicken" during the U.S Open led to an immediate and unreserved apology from the Spaniard, who denied it was racially motivated.

A statement from the world No. 1 on social networking site Twitter called the remarks "wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate."

Garcia claimed he had been disrupted during one of his shots after the gallery following Woods cheered as the 37-year-old pulled a club out of his bag that signaled his intention to go for the green despite being in the rough.

The Spaniard sliced his shot and made a bogey that saw him relinquish the one-shot lead he held at the time. Woods went on to win the tournament with late errors seeing his rival slip down the leaderboard.

Their row rumbled on for a few more weeks until Garcia was asked at a European Tour event whether he would be inviting Woods round for dinner during the U.S. Open. Garcia replied: "We'll be having him round every night... and serving him fried chicken."

Fried chicken is a common food in the American South, but when used in references to African-Americans, it often implies a negative stereotype.

Garcia apologized and later said in an interview with Sky Sports: "Obviously it was an unfortunate comment from me. I didn't mean it in a bad way. Everyone knows I'm not racist at all."

It remains to be seen what reception Garcia is afforded when bumper crowds hit Merion for the start of the tournament on Thursday.

Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who has been targeted several times by American spectators, said Garcia could face a rough ride from the galleries.

Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Bethpage Black Course, New York – The toughest of five courses at Bethpage State Park on Long Island, Bethpage Black joined the U.S. Open roster in 2002 after the USGA decided to bring its flagship tournament to a public venue. Green fee: $130 weekdays, $150 weekends.

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Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Chambers Bay, Washington – Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and opened for play in 2007, this 7,165-yard, par 72 stunner on the shores of Puget Sound hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur. It will host its first U.S. Open in 2015. Green fee: $219.

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Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Erin Hills, Wisconsin – Erin Hills hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2011 and will host the U.S. Open in 2017. The 7,823-yard, par 72 course is a walking-only course, with neither motorized nor pull carts allowed. Green fees: $200.

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Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Pebble Beach Golf Links, California – Jack Nicklaus said: "If I had only one more round to play, I would choose to play it at Pebble Beach. It's possibly the best in the world." Green fees: $495.

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Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Pinehurst No. 2, North Carolina – Pinehurst No. 2 hosted a PGA Championship in 1936, a Ryder Cup in 1951 and its second U.S. Open in 2005. Next year, it will become the first venue to host a U.S. Open and a U.S. Women's Open in subsequent weeks. Stay-and-play packages from $488.

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Photos:U.S. Open courses you can play

Torrey Pines Golf Course, California – Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines after hobbling his way around the course with a knee injury, then dispatching Rocco Mediate on the first sudden-death playoff hole. Green fee: $183.

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He was quoted by The Scotsman newspaper as saying: "Yes, he could do, which is very sad for our game. Remember we're only a couple of hours from New York and it's a lively crowd and I think he could well be booed.

"You would feel for him, but the trouble is [if] you feel for him that's you condoning it. So you can't feel sorry for him because you're condoning it. So it's very difficult -- it's a very difficult situation to be in."

Garcia has been paired with Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington -- both major winners -- for his first two rounds, while Woods plays with 2011 U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott, this year's Masters champion.

This week will mark five years since Woods last won a major -- his 14th -- at Torrey Pines in 2008. He has since gone 20 without victory.